To think this comment is sexist?

[BackOnceAgainWith]

Whenever a woman comes on the screen who is say, emotional, or angry, or just even confident....he says

"Oh that one has the stench of madness"

When I first questioned him on it - he said him and his mates when they were younger used to joke about it with new girlfriends - as in "stay away from that one mate, she's got the stench of madness" and that you can "smell madness on some women a mile off"

I said I found this incredibly sexist.

He says just a joke. Has always just been a joke. And that I often comment on men on TV saying 'well, he's an arsehole etc' and that it was just the same.

I don't pick him up on it anymore but I wonder if I have become totally humourless or if I've married a total pig?

It's a joke..something they say to each other. Wouldnt bother me I've said mental things about men/boys in my time.

Just a tad misogynistic: I’d be unimpressed.

what an absolute bore! using some hackneyed old statement parroted from mates years ago (and was hardly sparkling repartee even then !) he needs to grow up

and yes it is sexist, its in the same category as 'psycho ex' (yawn)

Misogynists do this to make women with opinions or feelings look crazy. Asshole is a generalised non gender word, can be used for anyone.
Just because he used to do it with his mates doesn't mean it's okay now.
You've not lost your sense of humour.

Of course it's sexist. Saying that about a woman who is simply confident pushes it to another league beyond 'normal' low level sexist 'banter'.